Berserk anime rights and licensing
The 1997 Berserk anime rights rest with Miura, Hakusensha, VAP, and NTV. Discotek Media handles the current North American Blu-ray re-release, while later adaptations have separate rights.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: The 1997 Berserk TV anime is copyright to Kentaro Miura, Hakusensha, VAP, and NTV, according to VAP's official product page. The series was produced by OLM and aired on Nippon Television. Discotek Media licensed the complete 1997 TV series for Blu-ray re-release in North America in 2024. Later Berserk adaptations, including the Golden Age film trilogy and the 2016 TV series, have separate rights and copyright lines.
Who owns the anime rights to Berserk?
VAP's official Berserk series page lists the 1997 TV anime copyright as '© Kentaro Miura / Hakusensha, VAP, NTV.' This names the late manga creator, the publisher Hakusensha, the Nippon Television group company VAP, and broadcaster NTV as the credited rights holders. OLM animated the series.
The manga Berserk is serialized in Hakusensha's Young Animal. Hakusensha therefore holds the underlying publishing rights. The 1997 TV adaptation is a joint rights venture between the publisher, the broadcaster, and VAP, which released the series on home video and soundtrack.
Berserk rights holders by adaptation, as credited in public sources.| Rights category | Publicly credited holder | Source |
|---|
| 1997 TV anime copyright | Kentaro Miura / Hakusensha / VAP / NTV | VAP official Berserk page |
| Original manga | Kentaro Miura / Hakusensha | Young Animal |
| 1997 animation production | OLM | Anime databases and VAP |
| North American Blu-ray (1997 series) | Discotek Media | CBR report |
| Golden Age film trilogy copyright | Kentaro Miura (Studio Gaga), Hakusensha / Berserk Film Partners | VAP official page |
Who licenses Berserk for home video and streaming?
Discotek Media announced in January 2024 that it would re-release the complete 1997 Berserk TV series on Blu-ray, with a native HD scan, new subtitles, and the original English dub. CBR reported that Media Blasters had previously held the rights, which lapsed in 2012. Discotek's release arrived in March 2024.
Streaming availability of the 1997 series is more fragmented. No major platform has announced a current exclusive global streaming license for the 1997 show. The 2016 TV series and the Golden Age film trilogy were handled by different production committees and distributors, so their rights are separate from the 1997 series.
Why Berserk has multiple rights holders by adaptation
Berserk has been adapted three times: the 1997 TV series, the 2012 to 2013 Golden Age film trilogy, and the 2016 to 2017 TV series. Each adaptation has its own copyright line and production committee. VAP's page shows the 1997 series as '© Kentaro Miura / Hakusensha, VAP, NTV' and the films as '© Kentaro Miura (Studio Gaga), Hakusensha / Berserk Film Partners.'
This means a license for one adaptation does not automatically include the others. A distributor must negotiate separately for the 1997 series, the films, and the 2016 series. The manga itself remains under Hakusensha and the Miura estate, now managed by Studio Gaga with Kouji Mori supervising the continuation.
Where public evidence stops
The copyright line names the 1997 rights holders but does not specify each party's share or approval authority. No public source discloses the terms of Discotek Media's Blu-ray license, including term length, territories, or whether it includes digital rights.
The status of streaming rights for the 1997 series is also unclear. Articles that claim a single global streaming home without a distributor announcement should be treated as unverified.
Ownership uncertainty note: Each Berserk adaptation has a separate copyright line and rights holder group. The 1997 series rights are credited to Miura, Hakusensha, VAP, and NTV, but internal shares and current streaming licenses are not public.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns the anime rights to Berserk?
The 1997 TV series is copyright to Kentaro Miura, Hakusensha, VAP, and NTV. Later adaptations have separate rights holders, such as Berserk Film Partners for the Golden Age trilogy.
Who licensed the 1997 Berserk anime in North America?
Discotek Media licensed the complete 1997 TV series for Blu-ray re-release in 2024. Media Blasters previously held the rights until 2012.
Are the Berserk movies and 2016 series under the same rights as the 1997 anime?
No. Each adaptation has its own production committee and copyright line. The Golden Age films are credited to Berserk Film Partners, and the 2016 series was produced by a different committee.
Who holds the Berserk manga rights?
The manga is published by Hakusensha in Young Animal. Kentaro Miura's estate, managed through Studio Gaga, oversees the continuation with Kouji Mori.